An Education Unparalleled

Established in 1817, Harvard Law School is the oldest continuously operating law school in the nation, but its greatest tradition is its commitment to critical analysis—of law, legal institutions, and legal education itself.

Approximately 1,990 students attend HLS each year: 1,750 J.D. students, 180 LL.M. students, and 60 S.J.D. candidates. The faculty includes more than 100 full-time professors and more than 150 visiting professors, lecturers on law, and instructors. The curriculum features more than 260 courses and seminars that cover a broad range of traditional and emerging legal fields.

A Harvard Law education prepares students for success in law practice, business, public service, teaching, and more. Most HLS students are pursuing a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree, while many others are earning an LL.M. (Master of Laws) or the S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science). Harvard Law School also offers many joint degree programs, coordinated programs, and concurrent degree opportunities with other schools within Harvard University. The Law School community is also home to numerous research programs and engaging publications, including books, scholarly periodicals, newsletters, and a weekly student newspaper.